The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1887-05-04

uncle who died at Icks burg III 1861.
Coming back to Sidon, we found grand
school turnout of Uncle Ben's color, in
which that worthy was greatly interested
He had only time to tell how mad some
of the young white gemmens were with
the young lady who had visited Sidon-H
He said it was a secret and must not be
told, "but that she picked and choosed too
much, and they'd show her they did not
care when she comes again
SALLIE B. MORGAN.
The Whiteboy Acts.
But few persons living in this age
know anything about the "Whiteboy
acts" passed by Irish Parliaments OF
the last century, for the violation OF
which men are TO be tried before a
court of summary jurisdiction if the
Coercion bill of the present British
Government becomes a law, and vet il
is bv the reviving Of these acts, or rather
by making them part of the Coercion
bill, that the extraordinary temper of
the Government toward Ireland is most
clearly shown. By the terms Of the act
of 1776, to which the Coercion bill par
ticularly refers, any person who, armed
with any offensive weapon, or disguised
or wearing any particular badge, dress
or uniform not usually worn by him, or
assuming any particular name or demon
ination not usually assumed by his
Maiesty's subjects, shall rise, assemble,
or appear by day or night, to the terror
of his Majesty's subjects" was guilty of
a misdemeanor This was the clause
4 = -. ~
the ballad: They're hanging men and
women there for the wearing O. the
green This clause was subsequently,
repealed, but the penalty of hanging
still remains for the sending of threaten
ing letters, for attempting to rescue a
prisoner committed on capital charge,
and for a variety of other misde-
meanors.
The act of ~ George III, chapter 5
which is also made part of the Coer-
cion bill, makes death the penalty for
unlawful meeting, and for the printing
of any document tending to incite a
riot. Sundry amendments have been
made to the acts since their original
passage, but the number of offences for
which indictments may be found under
them has by no means been decreased.
Under the Whiteboy code sending a
threatening letter, compelling another
man to leave his farm, habitation, or
lawful employment, maliciously causing
any door to be opened by threats OF
menaces, rescuing prisoner, aud i'm
posing an unlawful oath, are all crimi-
nal offences, and if the Coercion law
passes they nay all be passed upon by
courts of summary jurisdiction COM
pletely under the control of the Govern
ment at Dublin Castle. These are all
serious offences and worthy of severe
punishment, but they cannot, except In
spirit of pure tyranny, or without
wrenching justice very materially, be
taken from the jurisdiction of the ordi-
nary courts of the land in which the
offences are committed.
Under the Whiteboy acts the Gov
eminent may, if it chooses, make a
criminal offence of almost any act com
mitted by an opposing political party
Under the act of q George Ill, chapter
Is, which is expressly included in the
Coercion bill, twelve persons meeting
together and not dispensing on the proc
lamation of the magistrate, or not dis
persing when the magistrate has been
prevented from making such proclama
ton, are guilty of felony, and may be
sentenced TO death. This act puts an
end to all meetings of the Opposition
should a magistrate be found bold
enough to enforce it. But the most OPP
pressive Of the Whiteboy acts is Section
| 3, Chapter A, of | and William "
which practically muzzles the press oil
Great Britain. This section is worthy
of reproduction, as showing the extern
to which the enemies of Home Rule ar,
willing to go in the way of coercion. i
reads;
"And be it enacted, that, if any per
son or persons shall knowingly print
write, post, publish, circulate, send o.
deliver, or cause or procure to bt
printed, written, posted, published, cir
culated, sent or delivered, any notice
letter or message exciting or tending Il
excite any riot. tumultuous or unlawful
meeting or assembly, or unlawful com
bination or confederacy, or threatening
any violence, injury or damage upol
any condition or in any event or other
wise, to the person or property, real an6
personal, of any person whatsoever, o
| demanding any money, arms, weapon
or weapon, ammunition or other matte
or thing whatsoever for example, ask
ing reduction of remit or directing o
requiring any person to do or not to d
apv act, or to quit the service or EN-
ployment of any person, or to let or Civ
out any land, every person so offendln
shall be liable to be transported beyon
the seas"
These are but samples of the provis
ions of the Whiteboy acts which the &C
ercionists intend to place within tn
jurisdiction of summary Courts of pro
cedure. They are the laws of Grea
Britain to-day, but many of them hay
been looked upon as obsolete, especial
the clause just quoted. The Coercio
bill, if it becomes law, will revive thel
in all their original force, and with the
will revive the spirit of lawlessne
which first prompted their passage
New York Times.
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